Door closure assembly

ABSTRACT

A door closure assembly for tightly closing a door opening, whereby the door assembly provides a watertight barrier at the door opening. The closure assembly includes a movable door movable to a position closing off the door opening. An elongate gasket means extends along the bottom and side margins of the door, such being received within an elongate channel which is provided along side and bottom margins of the door. Gasket shoes actuated by jacks are disposed within this channel backing up the gasket means. Actuation of the jacks shifts the gasket shoes outwardly, generally in a direction paralleling the plane of the door, to press the gasket means against the floor and the sides of the door frame defining the door opening. This pressure also causes the gasket means to extrude against the sides of the channel receiving the gasket means.

United States Patent [191 Sause, Jr.

[11] 3,816,966 June 18, 1974 DOOR CLOSURE ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Henry Sause, Jr., 3829 NE.

Flanders, Portland, Oreg. 97204 [22] Filed: June 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 261,255

52 vs. C] 49/317, 49/480, 49/488 [51] Int. Cl E0611 7/28 [58] Field of Search 49/316-318,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,221,971 4/1917 Copony 49/317 X 1,389,423, 8/1921 Davis 49/318 2,805,741 9/1957 Evans et a1. 49/318 3,059,287 10/1962 Baruch et a1. 49/318 3,416,166 12/1968 Hanson 49/316 X 3,512,303 5/1970 Wright 49/488 X Primary Examiner--Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kolisch, Hartwell & Dickinson [57] ABSTRACT A door closure assembly for tightly closing a door opening, whereby thedoor assembly provides a watertight barrier at,the door opening. The closure assembly includes a movable door movable to a position closing off the door opening. An elongate gasket meahs extends along the bottom and side margins of r the door, such being received within an elongate channel which is provided along side and bottom margins of the door. Gasket shoes actuated by jacks are disposed within this channel backing up the gasket means. Actuation of the jacks shifts the gasket shoes outwardly, generally in a direction paralleling the plane of the door, to press the gasket means against the floor and the sides of the door frame defining the door opening. This pressure also causes the gasket means to extrude against the sides of the channel re ceiving the gasket means.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 DOOR CLOSURE ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to a closure assembly for closing a door opening, and more particularly to such a closure assembly which includes a door and means along margins thereof for producing a watertight seal with the door closing the door opening. The door closure assembly, for instance, has particular utility in closing the door opening provided in ocean going barges, toprevent sea water from leaking through the door opening during heavy seas, etc.

The usual ocean going barge is often provided with some sort of covered region where the load being transported is stored. A door opening is provided into this covered region, to accommodate unloading and loading of the barge. This opening is sealed shut withthe barge in transit. To prevent damage to the load being transported, it is important that the means closing the door opening produce a watertight seal.

Several types of door closures have beenproposed in the past for closing such a'door opening. The most common type of assembly has included dogs which are turned on the outside of the door, to force inner margins of the door and .a gasket mounted adjacent such margins against a shoulder that rims the door opening. This type of construction usually requires modification of the floor or deck in order that a seal may be produced along the deck line. Among the disadvantages introduced by such a modification is that anything which introduces unevenous to the floor or deck requires the provision of ramps or other means to accommodate easy travel through the door opening of lift trucks or other vehicles. Where dogs are relied requiring turning on the outside of the door for producing a seal, should a break in the seal occur during barge transit, it is difficult to correct, since it requiresa mans presence onthe barge outside the enclosure who must inspect the various dogs and then make proper adjustments where such are indicated.

Generally, an object of this invention is to provide novel closure mechanism for closinga door opening, which eliminates many of the difficulties which have attended conventional constructions as have-been proposed in the past.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door closure assembly which does not require extensive modification of the floor or deck in the barge in order to obtain a proper seal along the bottom margin of the door. A proper seal can be produced without the presenceof an upstanding shoulder such as would require ramps to enable a vehicle to travel across.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a closure assembly which is relatively easily adjusted to correct a broken seal.

A further object of the invention is to providea closure assembly which is relatively. maintenance free.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in a door closure assembly, a novel type of gasket assembly which is actuatable to produce a seal along a margin of the door.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, which will become more fully apparcut as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation illustrating, from the rear, portions of a door closure assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating details of construction of a comer of the door closure assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, illustrated in FIG. 1 in somewhat simplified form are portions of a barge having a deck or floor indicated at 10, and an enclosure 12 rising above the deck and enclosing a space on the barge within which the load which is transported is stored; Providing access to the interior of this enclosure is a door opening defined by the opposed sides l4, 16 of a door frame and that portion of deck 10 which extends between these sides.

The door opening is opened and closed utilizing a vertically movable door closure assembly indicated generally at 20. Track structure provided on each of the opposite sides I4, 16 of the door frame guide the closure assembly during its vertical movement. Specifically, and referring now also to FIG. 5, such track structure may comprise a pair of opposed elongated angle irons 22, 24 occupying a vertical position and secured to the side of the door frame. Flanges 22a, 24a of these angle irons project inwardly from the side of the .door frame, and define between them a vertically extending course receiving side portions of the door closure assembly, as will be described in detail.

Door closure assembly 20 includes a generally vertically'disposed door shown at 30. Particulars of the construction of the door are subject to variation, depending on the specific installation and the requirements desired of the door. The particular door illustrated comprises a series of vertical stiffeners 32 disposed side-byside along the width of the door. Joining these and disposed at different elevations along the height of the door are horizontal stiffeners 34. Joined to these various stiffeners and forming the front face of the door is metal plate 36.

Along the bottom margin of the door 30 is an elongated margin beam shown at 40, joined in a suitable manner to the stiffeners and plate 36 to form an'integral part of the door. Side margin beams 42, 44 extend along the side margins of the door. Joining the ends of side margin beam 42 and the bottom margin beam 40, at the left corner of the door as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, is an inclined beam segment 46. A similar inclined bearnsegment 48 joins the opposite end of beam 40 and side margin beam 44. I

Means is provided along the bottom and the two side margins of the door defining a channel, with the opening of such channel facing away from the door, in a direction extending generally parallel to the plane of the door. More specifically, and referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,

joined as by welding to bottom margin beam 40 are a pair of elongated bars 50, 52. These bars between them define a channel 54 opening downwardly from the bottom margin of the door. Similar bars, and refer to FIGS. 3 and 5, such as those shown at 56, 58, are joined to each of the side margin beams. Each set of bars define between them a channel 60 opening outwardly away from the side margin of the door. At the comers of the door laterally spaced plates such as the one shown at 62, define between them a channel facing outwardly from the inclined beam segment, which channel forms a continuation of the channel along the bottom door margin, and also a continuation of the channel along the door side margin.

To produce sealing engagement of the door with the floor or deck and the sides of the door frame 14, 16, an elongated gasket element of elastomeric material is provided, shown at 66. Such might typically be made of a weather resistant material such as neoprene, of around 40 durometer hardness. The gasket element includes a portion 66a disposed vertically in the channel defined along the left side margin of the door in FIG. 3, a portion 66b which extends along the bottom of the door in channel 54, and another portion similar to portion 66a disposed vertically in the channel opening defined along the right margin of the door. The gasket extends about each of the door corners, in a portion such as portion 66c, while seated between the plates 62.

It will be noted, with reference to FIG. 5, that the gasket element has a cross section which enables it substantially to fill the channel in which it is received. At the same time, it is easily movable within the channel in a direction away from the door margin to produce sealing engagement.

According to the instant invention, means is provided for shifting the gasket element laterally and away from the door margins, and for producing such shifting with the door in its position closing the door opening. Further describing this means, a bar is indicated at 70, which is disposed within channel 54 at the bottom margin of the door. Bar 70 backs up portion 66b of the gasket. The bar is joined in a suitable manner to gasket portion 66b at points distributed along the length of this portion, whereby the gasket portion will follow movement of the bar whether it be outwardly away from the door margin, or in a retracted direction towards the bottom door margin. An elongate channel-shaped portion 72 extends along the back of bar 70 and is joined to it as by welding. The bar and portion 72 together form what is referred to as a gasket shoe 7] extending along and lodged within channel 54. Similar shoes are provided backing up the gasket portions at the side door margins, as exemplified by shoe 74 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Backing up the gasket portions at the bottom corners of the door, are shoes such as shoe 78,

having a curved bar such as the one shown at 82 providing a convexly curved face in the shoe.

Movement of shoe 71 is produced by actuation of a power-operated means, as specifically exemplified by plural jacks 84 distributed along the bottom margin of the door. The jacks in the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed are operated hydraulically. Thus, each comprises a reversible hydraulic motor 86 mounted in a stationary position on the back of the door on a mounting flange 88 which extends along the base of the door and forms part of the door framework. The output shaft of the motor (see FIG. 3) is connected by shaft 90, socket 92, and nut 94 to a threaded shaft 96. The threaded shaft is rotatably supported by thrust assembly 98 on bottom margin beam 40, with the thrust assembly, while accommodating rotation of the threaded shaft, inhibiting axial displacement of such shaft. The base of the threaded shaft passes through a nut 100 which is secured as by welding to shoe 71, more particularly to the top of channel-shaped portion 72 in the shoe. With this construction, on operation of the motor and turning of shaft 90,'torque is transmitted to the threaded shaft 96 producing displacement of nut toward or away from the bottom margin of the door, the direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor.

A similar row of jacks is provided for displacing each of the shoes extending along side margins of the door 74, 76. Jacks 84a adjacent the comers of the door have a somewhat modified mounting, dictated by space requirements. Thus, and referring to FIG. 3, jacks 84a have motors 86a mounted on webs 102, and drive is transmitted to the thrusts assemblies 98 through right angle drive units shown at 104.

Shoes such as shoe 78, are displaced outwardly of a door comer by a single jack 84b provided for each of the shoes. The shoe may be pivotally mounted on the threaded shaft driven by the jack.

It should be noted in describing the jacks that socket 92 does not completely envelope a nut 94, which means that a portion of the nut remains exposed at the rear of the door closure assembly. This affords the opportunity for an operator to manually turn the nut, as with a wrench, for the purpose of making adjustments without using the power-operated motor.

At each of the lower comers of the door opening, a plate 106 is secured to the deck and door opening. Such plate has a concave edge 106a which gasket portion 66a comes up against when extended from a corner.

The door is provided with hold-down means for holding it in a position closing the door opening. Thus, and with reference to FIG. 6, illustrated is a hold-down pin provided in conjunction with each side margin of the door which is insertable through registering bores provided in angle irons 22, 24 forming the track structure, and in the bars such as bars 56, 58 defining the channel extending along the side margin of the door. With the pins in place, upward movement of the door is prevented.

The door closure assembly is moved up and down while guided by the track structure at the sides of the door frame by any suitable means. Details of such means have been omitted from this discussion, as such form no part of the instant invention.

It is believed that the operation of the closure assembly should be obvious from the above description. The door is moved into its position closing the door mpening with the various shoes retracted within the channels defined along bottom and side margins, and with the gasket backed up by these shoes retracted also. With the door in its closing position, and to produce a watertight seal, the door is first locked in a stationary position using the pins 108. The jacks may then be actuated to initiate lateral outward displacement of the gasket element with such then coming firmly in contact with the surface which is to be sealed. In the case of the sides of the door closure assembly, these surfaces are presented by the door frame. In the case of the bottom of the door closure assembly, this surface is presented by the deck or floor of the insulation with which the assembly is incorporated. With lateral outward displacement of the gasket element, the element is extruded to a degree, with the sides thereof bulging outwardly to come into snug contact with the bars on either side of the element defining the channel receiving the element. In this way, a complete seal along a margin is produced.

It should further be noted that the construction of the invention has a degree of flexibility. Should a broken seal be noted in one region of the door margin, it is a relatively easy matter to make adjustments to reestablish the seal in this particular region of the door margin.

The gasket element producing the seal is readily withdrawn to loosen the door, to permit its being moved up on the track structure to open the door opening. On such retraction, the gasket element, in that portion thereof which extends along a door side margin, moves toward the door margin sufficiently to move its outer face behind the outer edges of the bars defining the channel along such margin. In this way, the outer face of the gasket element is protected from unnecessary wear.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be obvious that variations and modifications are possible with respect to the construction of the closure assembly. It is desired and intended herein to cover all such modifications and variations as would be appropriate to one skilled in the art, and that are embraced within the invention as defined herein.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination with structure defining a door opening, a closure assembly for closing said door opening comprising a movable door with bottom and side margins movable to a position closing off said opening, said door including means forming a channel extending along a margin thereof with said channel having opposed sides defining a channel opening which faces away from the door in a direction extending generally parallel to the plane of the door,

an elongate elastomeric gasket portion extending along said margin of thedoor, seated within said channel, said gasket portion having a back facing inwardly toward the back of said channel and opposed elastomeric sides loose from and facing the sides of said channel, and

means joined to the back of said gasket portion for shifting the gasket portion laterally and away from said margin with the door stationary and in its position closing said opening to effect tight engagement of the gasket portion with said structure defining said door opening in a region adjacent said margin, said means for shifting the gasket portion laterally producing extrusion of the gasket portion whereby the sides thereof fit snugly against the sides of said channel with the gasket portion in tight engagement with the structure defining said door opening.

2. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said gasket portion comprises a gasket shoe fitting within said channel disposed between the back of the gasket portion and the back of said channel, and power-operated means mounted on the door connected to said shoe for moving the shoe within the confines of said channel.

said door including means forming a channel extending along the side margins of the door and the bottorn margin thereof, which channel has a channel opening facing away from the door in a direction extending generally in the plane of the door,

a substantially continuous gasketelemrmt received within said channel and extending along the side margins and the bottom margin of the door, said gasket element having a back facing inwardly toward the base of the said channel and opposed sides loose from and facing the sides of said chan nel, shoe elements mounted within said channel backing up and joined to said gasket element where it extends along said side and bottom door margins, and

power-operated jacks mounted on the door and operatively connected to the various shoe elements operable when actuated to shift the shoe elements generally outwardly and in a direction paralleling the plane of the door against the back side of said gasketelement to force the gasket element outwardly against the floor and door frame defining said opening and to extrude the element against the sides of the channel defined along the side margins and bottom of the door.

4. The combination of claim 3,. which further comprises track structure on said door frame disposed along each side of said door opening, said track structure comprising opposed laterally spaced flanges, and wherein the means forming a channel along each side margin of the door and the gasket element where such extends along each side of the door is partially received within said track structure.

5. The combination of a means defining a door opening including a floor and a door frame extending up from said floor,

a movable door movable vertically in said door frame to bring its bottom margin adjacent said floor with the door then in its closing position,

means for holding said door in its closing position,

said door including means forming a channel extending along each of opposite side margins with each channel having opposed sides defining a channel opening which faces away from the door in a direction extending generallyparallel to the plane of the door,

the door frame including track structure guiding each of opposite side margins of the door comprising laterally spaced guide flanges disposed to define an elongate vertical course at least partially receiving the means forming a channel along a side margin of the door,

elongate gasket means extending along opposite side margins of the door received within the channels defined, said gasket means having opposed sides loose from and facing said sides of said channel,

and means for shifting said gasket means laterally outwardly of the side margins of the door effective to produce tight engagement of said gasket means with the door frame and extrusion of said gasket means whereby it fits snugly against said sides of said channels.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said gasket 5 means comprises a substantially continuous gasket element extending along side and bottom margins of the door, and wherein said door includes means along its bottom margin defining a channel, which channel has 8 ment of said gasket means with the floor and extrusion of the gasket means whereby it fits snugly against the sides of the channel defined along the bottom margin of the door. 

1. In combination with structure defining a door opening, a closure assembly for closing said door opening comprising a movable door with bottom and side margins movable to a position closing off said opening, said door including means forming a channel extending along a margin thereof with said channel having opposed sides defining a channel opening which faces away from the door in a direction extending generally parallel to the plane of the door, an elongate elastomeric gasket portion extending along said margin of the door, seated within said channel, said gasket portion having a back facing inwardly toward the back of said channel and opposed elastomeric sides loose from and facing the sides of said channel, and means joined to the back of said gasket portion for shifting the gasket portion laterally and away from said margin with the door stationary and in its position closing said opening to effect tight engagement of the gasket portion with said structure defining said door opening in a region adjacent said margin, said means for shifting the gasket portion laterally producing extrusion of the gasket portion whereby the sides thereof fit snugly against the sides of said channel with the gasket portion in tight engagement with the structure defining said door opening.
 2. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for shifting said gasket portion comprises a gasket shoe fitting within said channel disposed between the back of the gasket portion and the back of said channel, and power-operated means mounted on the door connected to said shoe for moving the shoe within the confines of said channel.
 3. A door opening comprising a floor and a door frame extending up from said floor with the door frame and floor delineating the sides and bottom of the door opening, a movable door movable vertically in said door frame to a position closing said door opening where its bottom margin is adjacent said floor, said door including means forming a channel extending along the side margins of the door and the bottom margin thereof, which channel has a channel opening facing away from the door in a direction extending generally in the plane of the door, a substantially continuous gasket element received within said channel and extending along the side margins and the bottom margin of the door, said gasket element having a back facing inwardly toward the base of the said channel and opposed sides loose from and facing the sides of said channel, shoe elements mounted within said channel backing up and joined to said gasket element where it extends along said side and bottom door margins, and power-operated jacks mounted on the door and operatively connected to the various shoe elements operable when actuated to shift the shoe elements generally outwardly and in a direction paralleling the plane of the door against the back side of said gasket element to force the gasket element outwardly against the floor and door frame defining said opening and to extrude the element against the sides of the channel defined along the side margins and bottom of the door.
 4. The combination of claim 3, which further comprises track structure on said door frame disposed along each side of said door opening, said track structure comprising opposed laterally spaced flanges, and wherein the means forming a channel along each side margin of the door and the gasket element where such extends along each side of the door is partially received within said track structure.
 5. The combination of a means defining a door opening including a floor and a door frame extending up from said Floor, a movable door movable vertically in said door frame to bring its bottom margin adjacent said floor with the door then in its closing position, means for holding said door in its closing position, said door including means forming a channel extending along each of opposite side margins with each channel having opposed sides defining a channel opening which faces away from the door in a direction extending generally parallel to the plane of the door, the door frame including track structure guiding each of opposite side margins of the door comprising laterally spaced guide flanges disposed to define an elongate vertical course at least partially receiving the means forming a channel along a side margin of the door, elongate gasket means extending along opposite side margins of the door received within the channels defined, said gasket means having opposed sides loose from and facing said sides of said channel, and means for shifting said gasket means laterally outwardly of the side margins of the door effective to produce tight engagement of said gasket means with the door frame and extrusion of said gasket means whereby it fits snugly against said sides of said channels.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said gasket means comprises a substantially continuous gasket element extending along side and bottom margins of the door, and wherein said door includes means along its bottom margin defining a channel, which channel has opposed sides defining a channel opening facing away from the door, said gasket means it said extends along the bottom margin of the door seating within said channel, and which further comprises means for shifting said gasket means laterally outwardly of the bottom margin of the door effective to produce tight engagement of said gasket means with the floor and extrusion of the gasket means whereby it fits snugly against the sides of the channel defined along the bottom margin of the door. 